KEY FINDINGSThe 2012 Personal Safety Survey (PSS) collected information from men and women aged 18 years and over about their experience of stalking by a male and by a female. Stalking is defined by a range of behaviours which the person believed were undertaken with the intent to harm or frighten them. Behaviours include loitering, watching and following, interfering with or damaging a person's property, leaving material for the person that is offensive, being telephoned, sent mail or contacted electronically with intent to harm or frighten.

1 in 5 women (1.6 million) and 1 in 13 men (663,800) have experienced stalking during their lifetime.

Women were more likely to have experienced stalking by a male (94.5%) than by a female (11.6%)(a).

Men were as likely to have experienced stalking by a male (51.9%) as by a female (58.2%)(a).

The following groups were more likely to experience stalking in the 12 months:

Females (4.1%) compared to males (1.8%).

Persons born in Australia (3.7%) compared to persons born overseas (1.9%).

Persons aged 18-54 years (3.9%) compared to persons aged 55 years and over (1.6%).

Unmarried persons (4.9%) compared to married persons (2.1%).

Both men and women were more likely to have experienced stalking by someone they knew than by a stranger.

An estimated 68% of women who experienced stalking by a male and 82% of women who experienced stalking by a female knew the stalker.

An estimated 59% of men who experienced stalking by a male and 87% of men who experienced stalking by a female knew the stalker.

Men were more likely to perceive stalking as a crime when they were stalked by a male (55%) than by a female (18%).

Women were equally likely to perceive stalking by males and females as a crime (both 47%).

Less than half of persons who have experienced stalking contacted the police about the most recent episode of stalking.

An estimated 42% of women who experienced stalking by a female and 37% of women who experienced stalking by a male contacted the police.

An estimated 21% of men who experienced stalking by a female and 53% who experienced stalking by a male contacted the police.

Women were more likely to experience anxiety or fear as a result of stalking than men.

An estimated 42% of men stalked by a male and 28% of men stalked by a female experienced anxiety or fear in the 12 months after the most recent episode of stalking.

An estimated 62% of women stalked by a male and 54% of women stalked by a female experienced anxiety or fear in the 12 months after the most recent episode of stalking.

Of women who experienced stalking by a female, an estimated 48% reported the most recent episode of stalking lasted for less than 6 months, 28% reported that it lasted between 6 months and 2 years, and 24% reported that it lasted for 2 years or more.

Of women who experienced stalking by a male, an estimated 56% reported the most recent episode of stalking lasted for less than 6 months, 29% reported that it lasted between 6 months and 2 years, and 15% reported that it lasted for 2 years or more.

Of men who experienced stalking by a female, an estimated 50% reported the most recent episode of stalking lasted for less than 6 months, 34% reported that it lasted between 6 months and 2 years, and 16% reported that it lasted for 2 years or more.

Of men who experienced stalking by a male, an estimated 56% reported the most recent episode of stalking lasted for less than 6 months, 28% reported that it lasted between 6 months and 2 years, and 16% reported that it lasted for 2 years or more(f).

FOOTNOTES

(a) Men and women could have experienced stalking by both a male and a female, resulting in proportions summing to over 100%.(b) Relates to all persons who have ever been stalked during their lifetime.(c) Relates to persons who were stalked in the last 20 years.(d) Contacting police includes contact made to the police directly by the person who experienced stalking, and contact made by someone else.(e) Relates to persons who were stalked in the 20 years and the stalking has stopped.(f) Estimate for men stalked by male for 2 years or more has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.